American Mathematical Society facts for kids
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| Formation | 1888 |
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| Legal status | 501(c)(3) non-profit |
| Headquarters | Providence, Rhode Island |
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Membership
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30,000 |
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President
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Ravi Vakil |
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Chief executive officer
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John Meier |
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Revenue (2022)
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$32,815,444 |
The American Mathematical Society (AMS) is a group of professional mathematicians. They work to support and advance math research and learning. The AMS helps mathematicians around the world through its publications, meetings, and other programs.
The society is part of the Joint Policy Board for Mathematics and the Conference Board of the Mathematical Sciences.
Contents
History of the AMS
The AMS started in 1888 as the New York Mathematical Society. Thomas Fiske got the idea after visiting the London Mathematical Society in England. John Howard Van Amringe was the first president, and Fiske was the secretary.
The society soon decided to publish its own journal. This led to the Bulletin of the American Mathematical Society, which helped more people join. Later, they launched other important journals like Transactions of the American Mathematical Society and Proceedings of the American Mathematical Society.
Important Milestones
In 1891, Charlotte Scott from Britain became the first woman to join the society. The group changed its name to the American Mathematical Society in 1894 and became a national organization. That same year, Charlotte Scott became the first woman on the society's Council. In 1927, Anna Pell-Wheeler was the first woman to give a special lecture at the society's Colloquium.
In 1951, a meeting in Nashville had an issue where some Black mathematicians were not allowed to attend a banquet. Lee Lorch and his colleagues spoke up about this. Even though the society's rules weren't changed right away, new policies were put in place to prevent discrimination, and these have been followed strictly ever since.
Also in 1951, the AMS moved its main office from New York City to Providence, Rhode Island. Later, they opened more offices in Ann Arbor, Michigan (1965) and Washington, D.C. (1992).
In the 1970s, the AMS started to become more open and fair. Before this, it was sometimes hard for new people to get involved. Mary W. Gray helped make a big change by insisting that Council meetings be open to everyone. This helped the society become more democratic. In 1971, the AMS also created a committee to support women in mathematical sciences.
Julia Robinson was the first female president of the American Mathematical Society, serving from 1983 to 1984.
In 1988, the Journal of the American Mathematical Society was created. It became the most important journal published by the AMS.
Supporting Math Research
The American Mathematical Society plays a big part in helping math research grow. They do this by encouraging teamwork, supporting new researchers, and publishing important math papers.
Helping Researchers Connect
The AMS helps mathematicians work together through various programs. The Mathematical Research Communities, started in 2008, gives young researchers a chance to join intense workshops. They can work with others and get advice from experienced mathematicians. These programs often lead to new research groups that explore new areas of math.
The AMS also supports programs like Research Experiences for Undergraduates. These programs help college students get involved in high-level math research. The society also offers money for travel and fellowships. This helps mathematicians attend international conferences and work on projects together.
Impact on Policy and Education
Supporting Math Funding
The AMS speaks up for government funding for math research. They work with groups like the National Science Foundation to promote funding. The AMS is also part of the Joint Policy Board for Mathematics. This group works with lawmakers to show how important math is for new technologies and national safety.
Working with the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the AMS has discussed how to develop a strong workforce in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). They also highlight how math is used in areas like cybersecurity and data science. The society supports steady funding for math research because it helps economic growth and scientific progress.
Meetings and Events
The AMS, along with many other groups, hosts the world's largest annual math research meeting. It's called the Joint Mathematics Meeting and happens every January. For example, the 2019 meeting in Baltimore had about 6,000 attendees. Each of the four regional sections of the AMS also holds meetings twice a year. The society also works with other international math groups to host meetings.
Honoring Mathematicians
Fellows of the AMS
Each year, the AMS chooses a group of Fellows. These are mathematicians who have made amazing contributions to advancing math.
Math Prizes
The AMS gives out several important prizes, sometimes with other math organizations. These awards recognize great achievements in different areas of mathematics.
- Bôcher Memorial Prize
- Cole Prize
- David P. Robbins Prize
- Fulkerson Prize
- Leroy P. Steele Prizes
- Morgan Prize
- Norbert Wiener Prize in Applied Mathematics
- Oswald Veblen Prize in Geometry
Reaching Out to Students
The AMS creates materials to help middle school, high school, and college students learn about math. These include:
- Posters about mathematicians and different math topics.
- Mathematical Moments: These are posters and interviews that show how math is used in science and society.
- Math in the Media: This is a monthly summary of news articles that mention math, often with activities for classrooms.
How Math Papers Are Made
The AMS was one of the first groups to use a special computer program called TeX for writing math papers. They even made their own versions, AMS-TeX and AMS-LaTeX. Now, TeX and LaTeX are used everywhere in math publishing.
Leaders of the AMS
The AMS is led by a president who serves for two years. They cannot serve two terms in a row. The current president is Ravi Vakil, who started his term in February 2025.
Past Presidents
Many famous mathematicians have served as president of the AMS since it began. Here are a few examples:
- John Howard Van Amringe (1888–1890) - The first president.
- Thomas Fiske (1903–1904) - The founder of the society.
- Julia Robinson (1983–1984) - The first female president.
- Jill Pipher (2019–2020)
- Ruth Charney (2021–2022)
- Bryna Kra (2023–2024)
Executive Directors
The AMS also has an executive director. This person manages the daily operations of the organization and helps carry out its goals.
- Holbrook MacNeille (1949–1954)
- John Curtiss (1954–1959)
- Gordon Walker (1959–1977)
- William LeVeque (1977–1988)
- William Jaco (1988–1995)
- John H. Ewing (1995–2009)
- Donald McClure (2009–2016)
- Catherine Roberts (2016–2023)
- John Meier (2024-)
See also
In Spanish: American Mathematical Society para niños
- Canadian Mathematical Society
- Mathematical Association of America
- European Mathematical Society
- London Mathematical Society
- List of mathematical societies
